Manhattan's Mecca Named Team USA Coach For U20 Games
TAMPERE, FINLAND - Manhattan Head Track and Field Coach
Dan Mecca has been named assistant coach of the USA Track and Field (USATF) National Team for the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships, to be held July 10-15 in Tampere, Finland.
"I'm excited to be a part of the U.S. team again," said Mecca, whose first stint on the national team staff came in 1990. "It's a great honor, and it's something I look forward to - to work with people on USA Track and Field, and to represent the United States."
As an assistant coach, Mecca will oversee the team's male throwers. This past collegiate outdoor season, he coached three Manhattan throwers to the NCAA preliminaries and one, Ire Bozovicar, to a spot in the NCAA discus championship.
This year's national team coaching staff was selected by USATF's Men's and Women's Track & Field Executive Committees, and was approved by USATF's board of directors. Mecca was originally selected to the national team coaching staff for the 1990 World Junior Championships in Plodiv, Bulgaria. It was the first time the men's and women's coaching staffs were combined, and he worked with the throwers, pole vaulters, and multi-event athletes.
Mecca also coached the Irish national team at the 1993 World University Games, and returned to the U.S. staff for the 2009 World Championships as coach to former Jasper and NCAA champion Jake Freeman, who qualified for the championships after a second place finish in the hammer throw at nationals. Over the years, athletes trained by Mecca have also competed at the Olympics, European Championships, Pan American Championships and Caribbean Championships, representing not only the U.S., but also Ireland, Sweden, Jamaica, Serbia, Germany, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
"It's a great honor to be selected for a team any time, but it's great to be part of the U.S. team," Mecca said. "The excitement and adrenaline of being a part of the U.S. team will always be there."
Appropriately for a team USA representative, Mecca will leave for Finland on July 4, and remain throughout the entire championships. In addition to competition, he says he's excited for the events surrounding the games, including the chance to see the Olympic training center.
"There's a number of old friends I'm excited to see," he added. "And getting the chance to work with other coaches from around the world."